View Full Version : Why the hostility towards Parallels?
MisterBaron
11-17-2003, 11:34 AM
I don't quite understand why there are so many negative posts about Parellels on here. I think it is one of the greatest "straightforward" (sort of) rock songs Yes has ever done. The song has so much energy and makes me feel like taking over the world sometimes! I've always seen the song as a tribute to the "Yes Album" era, or maybe to Tony Kaye, with that organ. It even sounds like it could fit in perfectly on the Yes Album. A great tune. Call me crazy but Going For the One may just be my favorite Yes album. Every song on it is incredible. It's an uplifting, fun, yet very progressive record. Sadly one that doesn't get the respect it deserves it seems.
bataisflow
11-17-2003, 11:35 AM
I don't quite understand why there are so many negative posts about Parellels on here. I think it is one of the greatest "straightforward" (sort of) rock songs Yes has ever done. The song has so much energy and makes me feel like taking over the world sometimes! I've always seen the song as a tribute to the "Yes Album" era, or maybe to Tony Kaye, with that organ. It even sounds like it could fit in perfectly on the Yes Album. A great tune. Call me crazy but Going For the One may just be my favorite Yes album. Every song on it is incredible. It's an uplifting, fun, yet very progressive record. Sadly one that doesn't get the respect it deserves it seems.
Hey man I agree. It is one of their best songs IMHO! Just take a look at my signature!
upbgirl
11-17-2003, 11:43 AM
even tho 'parallels' has something to do with my favorite gymnastics event [ ;) ]
that song is A rocker!!
when i worked a midnight shift, it took that whole song-turned up to 11 [hehe] to get me motivated to get to work while everyone else was sleeping or partying..
and that bass line..
WOW!
thunderous indeed!
it's the beginning of a new love inside
and i have used that 'ever opening flower' phrase many a time in regular speech
[of course, it is lost on anyone but Yesfans.. hehe]
it still reminds me of the prism ball opening at the end of the last floyd show i saw-mixing my bands now, aye?]
i even had my gymnasts do an exhibition with that music playing in the background, too!
really got THEM hyped up-boy-did they tmble HIGH when THAT song was playing.
[they'd rather have had something THEY liked, but oh well.. even coaches need to be motivated from time to time..]
good to see ya baron!
Earl Grey
11-17-2003, 12:43 PM
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Parallels!
I don't get it either MrBaron. I think it made quite the emotional opener, back in 1977: one of the few songs that can hold a candle to Siberian Khatru.
I, for one, am hoping to hear it again next year: in fact, I would be happy to hear it delegated as the opening song again!
When YES played in Honolulu, they didn't play Siberian Khatru till mid-show, and it was really nice hearing the song in a different context... Parallels has all the earmarks of a classic, and it makes quite the opening number live. Maybe next year, eh?
Parallels is a pure Chris song, and that's a good thing. I would love to hear 'It Could Happen', 'Parallels', AND 'Onward' live again. Chris is the right stuff, ya know? A wonderful songwriter.
Maybe next year, they will decide to open with Parallels again... It's a great Yessong, and deserves a place of honor in the current tour.
Welcome to Yesfans Mr Baron! Great thread idea, and I'm there with ya buddy: Parallels is one of the finest Yessongs ever! Post often, and have fun!
Earl:yesbird:
bataisflow
11-17-2003, 12:46 PM
I did read on Where are they now that Rick wants to do Parallels and Arriving UFO in the US next year. here is to that thought!
Earl Grey
11-17-2003, 12:52 PM
I did read on Where are they now that Rick wants to do Parallels and Arriving UFO in the US next year. here is to that thought!
Fantastic! See? We Yesfans have a strange synchronicity with the band: sometimes I think the guys actually read what we have to say here, and base their set-lists on our hopes... But in all actuality, I think we are so in-tune with Yes, that we come to the same conclusions as to set-lists/tour ideas/etc.
I am thinking NEW ALBUM. NEW ALBUM. Hope I'm correct on that one as well!
;)
yarstruly
11-17-2003, 01:27 PM
I love Parallels as well! I don't understand why some don't.....
Parallels is among my favourites of all times. I like the way the organ was integrated to the song and how it rocks. I would love to have it as intro to the next concerts.
Sheerah
11-17-2003, 04:42 PM
I didn't realize that we had any hostility on this forum towards Parallels. My only hostility towards the song is that this is one of the most difficult words in the world for me to spell. I love the song. It TOTALLY, TOTALLY ROCKS!
Man, how great would that be to hear Parallels and Arriving UFO on the next tour?!
illusion
11-17-2003, 04:46 PM
I can't spell it either.
First one I heard and it's great.
I see no hostility!
1yesfan
11-17-2003, 04:47 PM
Not a bad tune is ya ask me. AUFO would be great to hear also!
gathernear
11-17-2003, 05:07 PM
Says who??
Phat Khatru
11-17-2003, 05:40 PM
Wouldn't be surprised if it was to open the show next tour, Parallels.
How about Release, Release and Soundchaser next tour as well.
Bluetailfly
11-17-2003, 06:23 PM
I think it is settled then, there is no hostility towards Parallels. Yesfans love it and want to hear it live next year, it says so right here.
ycantibu
11-17-2003, 06:45 PM
Well, this YesWest fan thinks parallels is a pretty nifty song. That's an endorsement, kinda...anyhoo, I think it would pretty coolness if they did it in concert.
Silent_wings
11-17-2003, 07:17 PM
I love Parallels
It would be a great opener for the next tour.
BredYes
11-18-2003, 03:10 AM
I would love to hear Parallels next year in concert. Love that church organ solo in the middle. I don't see much hostility by the way. Get the impression that it is a very popular song among fans.
bender
11-18-2003, 05:41 AM
Somewhere on this forum there is a link to a new Rick Wakeman interview and he said that he'd be pushing to open with Parallels instead of (as he said), Siberian Carrot!!
Great song.
Earl Grey
11-18-2003, 05:50 AM
How's about 'Silent Wings Of Freedom'?
That's the one song I will feel CHEATED out of hearing, if the band never plays it again.
'Future Times' 'Parallels'and 'Silent Wings Of Freedom'.
How strange, that all the songs I want to hear are from TORMATO...
...Which I HATED when it first arrived. A UFO indeed!
Such is history.
We hate it while we are in it, and we ever gaze back at it with sad nostalgia, and we desire that which we had, and brushed off as no consquence...
YES!
They always KNEW what we wanted, we just had to live through the thing.
And the past is always sweeter than we knew it to be.
:ele:
BrianD
11-18-2003, 05:55 AM
I like Parallels but its not a favorite. I think its the weakest track on GFTO - but then again that isn't putting it down as that is a great album. I certainly would like to see it revived along with Turn of the Century, Onward and Release Release from that era.
Earl Grey
11-18-2003, 06:02 AM
Well...
It's the intelligent rocker of the album.
'Going For The One'.
Just a 'rocker'.
Which we've heard before...
"Whole Lot Of Love' with horses and boats...
A nice thought, but of little consequence.
Parallels, on the other hand, had something to say.
What did they say again? Oh yeah...
A great song.
An 'opener'.
Squire is YES's rocker. You can certainly give him that distinction. Not a 'mod'.
Perhaps a 'mocker'.
And most certainly, a 'rocker'.
I like Parallels. It works, even as a word. There's a balance in PARALLELS... even in the spelling of it. And...
They should play it again: like at the beginning of a show... And I am waiting. Baited breath and all. Knock me out.
I am imagining that Steve Howe or Janee will read this and prove history as correct. PARALLELS as the opening number next tour.
:ele:
R'tanys
11-19-2003, 01:59 AM
That would make this li'l Yesfan as happy as a hot dog. This is the one! This is the song that sent me over the edge into full-tilt, fevered, frenzied Yesfandom. I can't imagine Parallels not being one of my top five favorite Yessongs.
Erdy1
11-19-2003, 09:19 AM
Personally, I love every song on both GFTO and Tormato. Tormato obviously isn't as strong as GFTO, but I still love it.
Parallels (sp?) is one of my favorite "hard" yes songs.
Mr. Holland
11-19-2003, 01:43 PM
With all I'm reading about the song, my feeling of Yes doing this one as an opener next tour, is getting stronger and stronger. If Parallels and OTSWOF get played next years tour I will be shutting up about set lists......now that promise allready makes it worthwhile to play those songs, doesn't it :bncy: ??
Timmo
12-03-2003, 08:21 PM
Wow, I didn't realize that "Parallels" was maligned, I've always found it the strongest song on GFTO. Also, many of my friends in college that did NOT like Yes would say "well, I like that "Parallels" song." It's the closest Yes ever came to having a song with real pop "hooks."
I saw their GFTO "In the Round" tour in Philly in the late 70s, and after consuming WAY too much pot (ah, the follies of youth in the 70s), I don't remember too much from that first night...except they opened with "Parallels" after the Stravinski snippet, and it ROCKED.
Tim
Venice, CA
gathernear
12-03-2003, 08:49 PM
Tim, this thread is a mystery. If there is hostility toward Parallels, it is hidden, like some kind of cult.
:anicandyc
Larry
I'll own up to it, if it matters. It never grabbed me at all. I figured it out without an instrument (easily identifiable patterns), then learned what key it was in, polished a few licks, and I was done. I always thought the pipe organ solo was kinda cheesy. 50-50 by Zappa has a humorous pipe organ solo that "could" almost be a parody of this song. But I like that solo.
The one part I do like is after the solo. The vocal carries the break and the band comes in. Nice change, but then it goes back into the regular verse rhythm on the fade out. Steve has some nice licks and plays some good chording during the solo.
It's been years since I played or listened to it. I was still learning how to play Tales and Relayer when this came out, so this didn't impact me much. I have a different perspective as a musician, I guess. Oh, well.
Now, on with my flame-retardant suit.
Timmo
12-03-2003, 09:53 PM
I'll own up to it, if it matters. It never grabbed me at all. I figured it out without an instrument (easily identifiable patterns), then learned what key it was in, polished a few licks, and I was done. I always thought the pipe organ solo was kinda cheesy. 50-50 by Zappa has a humorous pipe organ solo that "could" almost be a parody of this song. But I like that solo.
The one part I do like is after the solo. The vocal carries the break and the band comes in. Nice change, but then it goes back into the regular verse rhythm on the fade out. Steve has some nice licks and plays some good chording during the solo.
It's been years since I played or listened to it. I was still learning how to play Tales and Relayer when this came out, so this didn't impact me much. I have a different perspective as a musician, I guess. Oh, well.
Now, on with my flame-retardant suit.
No flames here, I don't care THAT MUCH about "Parallels," or anything from GFTO for that matter.
Any jabs at "Relayer" tho, is fightin' words!
Faceintheplace
12-03-2003, 09:57 PM
I've always liked "Going for the One" and "Parallels."
Come on, ya gotta love the bonus track version on the Rhino version;
"Guess what? I've got a fever, and the only thing that can put it out is more cowbell!"
TRUEYOUTRUEME
12-03-2003, 10:48 PM
Oh man that is good. For most of the song I feel very high, it is powerful.
There is a part right before the solo that slows me down but the song rocks on high.
It is the beginning of a new love inside....
Any jabs at "Relayer" tho, is fightin' words!
I gotch'er back on that, good buddy.
Besides, so many here have called The Remembering "padded". IF that were true, then Parallels is a throwaway. Filler, at best.
Emops
12-07-2003, 01:34 PM
"Guess what? I've got a fever, and the only thing that can put it out is more cowbell!"
LOL!
I’ll admit I didn’t care for Parallels the first time I heard it, but what won me over was the Yesshows version. I love how Rick replaced the organ with a keyboard for the solo. And I also love the cleaner version on the GFTO Rhino remaster.
mattquarterstein
06-21-2004, 08:19 AM
I really like Parallels. So energetic and positive.
Mr. Holland
06-21-2004, 08:35 AM
With all I'm reading about the song, my feeling of Yes doing this one as an opener next tour, is getting stronger and stronger. If Parallels and OTSWOF get played next years tour I will be shutting up about set lists......now that promise allready makes it worthwhile to play those songs, doesn't it :bncy: ??
Well, we all know the set list for this tour by now, I recon and.....no Parallels and no OTSWOF.....so guess what???? I won't be shutting up about set lists any time soon in the future..... :lmao: ;)
Nellsalot
06-21-2004, 02:35 PM
I loooove Parallels, too! I haven't noticed tons of hostility towards it but not a lot of people have talked about it and when they do they seem to say that the organ was cheesy. I love the power of this song, it's just too hot, I can't explain it. This is sort of the quintessential late '70s Yes song for me, the best example of that side of their music.
i think its the weakest song on GFT1 but that doesn't mean that its bad. You can tell that Squire wrote it though because jon would never rhyme higher with fire, or flower and power. But yeah; i give this album a rating of a 10 out of 10 and in order for me to rate it like that every song has to be superb. and this song is no exception.
oh, and i like the organ and its not cheesy. The synths on tormato are cheesy.
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.